School for Champions

Succeed by Studying Great Speeches

Successful people often present their ideas through giving speeches. Some write their thoughts and beliefs or use professional speech writers to reflect their concepts. Some are also eloquent speakers, who can arose or move an audience. What these people have to say is also of significance for historical or business theory studies.

There is need for people who can effectively write such speeches, either for themselves or for others. There is also a need for those who can make presentations and speak to others. Your knowledge and skills in this area can help advance your career or improve your business.

The purpose of these free online lessons is to give you a start at improving your writing, speaking, historical or business skills. If you have any questions, send us an email.

Note that the speeches also are in audio. You must have a Flash player to hear the speeches.

Contents

Presidential inaugural addresses

The following speeches are good resources to study. (There are no political implications in their selection.)

Harry S Truman's Inaugural Address in 1949

John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address in 1961

Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Address in 1981

Bill Clinton's Second Inaugural Address in 1997

George W. Bush's First Inaugural Address in 2001

Other speeches of note

Speeches listed according to date given.

1800s

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in 1863

Mark Twain's "Our Fellow Savages" Humorous Speech in 1866

Oliver Wendell Holmes' "The Soldier's Faith" Speech of 1895

1940s

Winston Churchill's First Speech as Prime Minister: "Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat" in 1940

Winston Churchill's "Never Give In" Speech of 1941

1960s

Fidel Castro's 1960 Address to the U.N. General Assembly: "The Problem of Cuba and its Revolutionary Policy" (divided into four parts)

Castro speech - Part 2

Castro speech - Part 3

Castro speech - Part 3

Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech in 1963

Excerpts from Martin Luther King's Speeches - Audio

Martin Luther King's Last Speech: 3 April 1968

1980s

Ronald Reagan's Announcement of the Strategic Defense Initiative in 1983

Jesse Jackson's Address before the 1984 Democratic Convention

Ronald Reagan's Speech at Moscow State University in 1988

1990s

Teaching the Virtues by William J. Bennett - In Education section

2000s

George W. Bush's Address to Congress on 9/11/2001 Terrorist Attack

Barack Obama's Address before the 2004 Democratic Convention

Resources

General Great Speeches Reader Feedback

Resources for Studying Great Speeches

Succeed in Public Speaking

Succeed in Writing

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